Change is Your Competitive Advantage: Strategies for Adapting, Transforming, and Succeeding in the New Business Reality

by Karl G Schoemer

Organizations today face a stark change or fail. Transformation has become the only constant of the business landscape, and those companies that cannot adapt are doomed. But Karl Schoemer's New Reality program is here to help businesses make the tough choices that will lead to success. This book iincludes practical tools to help managers and to changeIdentify Design/Defiant/Default behaviorsCreate a culture focused on the needs of the customer and consumerThis book includes case studies and anecdotes from Schoemer's clientele and positions executives and employees to make the most out of every change their company encounters.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2009

Reviews

[Craig Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It is not the strongest of species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change." - Charles Darwin

I think that quote exemplifies a main idea that the author has written the book on. They emphasized outdated work practices/cultures and wanted the reader to understand that in modern times it is the businesses who adapt quickest who survive. I think this was a little overemphasized, because we are not all fast paced tech businesses with highly competitive markets where years of establishment can be toppled overnight. However, I still think there are many great takeaways from the book that help the reader to handle uncertainty, change and focus. Might come back to rereading certain parts of the book later for reminders on some of those takeaways.

[Rob Warner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for work, and took notes as I read. Some good insights here on why we experience so much change and how to manage it.

[Nancy Bennett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this book for work. I wish I could say that it offered something groundbreaking, but it doesn't. Most of the material can be found elsewhere and the author's tone can be very condescending. It definitely feels like it was written for management but marketed to sell to everyone.

The author made some very good points -- as all these books do -- but it just felt like I was re-reading stuff I read before. And his tone absolutely drove me nuts as several times I wanted to throw the book against the wall.

If this is your first Change Management book and you're a manager you might find it useful, but keep in mind that your direct reports will probably not have the same attitude towards it.